Posts By: Jacob Charles

Blade Runner Biometrics

Anthony Tucker-Jones reports on the implications of US plans to extend biometric security measures to everyone entering and leaving the country by 2018 Ridley Scott’s ground breaking 1982 movie Blade Runner featured a biometric security system testing emotional response in order to unmask artificial humans. Called the Voight-Kampff machine it notably included a camera that… Read more »

Latin America Threatwatch: Terrorist groups and countries facing threat

IHS Country Risk considers some of the biggest threats facing countries in the area and the terror groups responsible Venezuela The main security threat in Venezuela is rising criminality.  Domestic gangs operating in shanty towns known as Mega Bandas normally have around 50 members, and have emerged due to poor socio-economic conditions and a weak… Read more »

The evolution of Airport Security

Ian Todd focuses on the changing face of the modern airport and how improvements in security can minimise terrorist attacks This year marks the 15th anniversary of a terrible attack that shook the world and prompted an ongoing quest to make air travel safer. Since 11 September 2001 the US has spent upwards of $100… Read more »

Taking the fight to cyber criminals

Andrew Sheldon examines the challenge for providers of digital triage solutions and how they are helping to limit cyber crime The rise of cyber crime is, even in a climate of political upheaval and social realignment, still a headline grabber on a regular basis – and with the kind of statistics available, that’s hardly surprising…. Read more »

The fight back against IEDs

Tony Kingham reports on what’s being done to find hidden explosives and how detection of TATP devices is being improved It has been a long-held desire for security services worldwide to find technology that allows the detection of explosives in a non-invasive way, from a safe distance or stand-off position for vehicles, goods and baggage,… Read more »

Recruitment and radicalisation: The psychology of ISIS

Paula Mathers examines how ISIS recruits its members and what leads young, impressionable people to wage jihad Jihadi John, 7/7, 9/11 and the Boston Bombings are phrases that have become so common that even our children are aware of the meanings and the terror these events can inflict in the minds of the public. They… Read more »

Brexit batters Europe

Anthony Tucker-Jones takes a close look at the defence and security implications of the UK’s historic Brexit decision A month does not go by without there being a militant Islamic-inspired terrorist outrage somewhere in the world. A spate of attacks on public spaces, especially transport hubs, has hammered home the dire need for ever greater… Read more »

Why mobile security matters

Simon Cairns outlines the growing threat to mobile security and the increasing importance of phone encryption Over the last few years we have seen the development of the smartphone and its capabilities within the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) world. Now most smartphones carry all of our data, both private and business, and increasingly include personal information including… Read more »

Lost and found

Colin Dale, explores personal tracking solutions and their place in the larger counter terrorism and high-level security picture When incidents of terrorism and kidnap meet sophisticated GPS-based personal tracking solutions on smartphones or satellite phones, a diverse range of information is collected remotely by security centres and shared with emergency and other services, including police… Read more »

Lighter than air security

Timothy Compston finds out why aerostats are making their presence felt in the on-going battle to secure borders and fight back against drug smugglers Although drones remain very much in the news, aerostats are one family of aerial systems that have much to commend them and are taking off like never before, thanks to a… Read more »